We rise to magnificent Heights of
Insane Fury of effort bred of Terror²
I am Angry nearly Every Day of my
Life but I’ve Learned Not to Show it,
And I still hope to learn not to Feel it³
Anyone can become Angry, that’s Easy –
But to be angry with the right Person, to the
Right Degree, at the right Time, for the right
Purpose, and in the right Way – that is Not Easy⁴
Numberless, Inexpressible Frustrations combine
To make our Rage Elemental and Awe-Inspiring⁵
If I look at the Content of others’ Anger and not the
Way they Expresses it, I Recognize it as my Own⁶
How with this Rage shall Beauty hold a Plea?⁷
I am Angry with my Friend: I Tell my wrath,
My wrath does End – I am Angry with my
Foe: I tell it Not, my wrath does Grow⁸
We Dance our Anger on the Wind⁹
Anger, when Fed, is Dead:
‘Tis Starving makes it Fat¹⁰
¹ Jack London, The Call of the Wild
² William Carlos Williams, The Use of Force
³ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
⁴ Aristotle, The Nichomachean Ethics
⁵ William Golding, Lord of the Flies
⁶ Hugh Prather, Forward to Love is Letting Go of Fear
⁷ William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXV
⁸ William Blake, A Poison Tree
⁹ Ursula K. Le Guin, The Farthest Shore
¹⁰ Emily Dickinson, Mine Enemy is Growing Old